MSC World America Claims Best Overall Ship Title in 2025 Industry Awards

2025-12-30 companies

Miami, Tuesday, 30 December 2025.
Outperforming established rivals, MSC’s largest vessel secured the 2025 title, signaling a major market shift while captivating travelers with industry-firsts like the Cliffhanger over-water swing ride.

A Shift in Market Dominance

In a decisive move within the North American cruise sector, MSC Cruises has claimed the top accolade at the 2025 Cruise Hive Awards, with its flagship MSC World America named the Best Overall Cruise Ship of 2025 [1][2]. The award, announced on December 29, 2025, follows a voting period that ran from October 14 to December 19, 2025 [2][3]. Garnering 4.8% of the total vote, the vessel outperformed major competitors from publicly traded heavyweights, relegating Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas to second place and Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Aqua to third [1][2]. This victory marks a significant return to the podium for the Swiss-based line, which last secured a Cruise Hive award in 2017 with the MSC Seaside [2].

Engineering Thrills and Gastronomic Innovation

Launched in Miami on April 12, 2025, the MSC World America represents a massive capital investment in capacity and on-board experience, weighing in at 216,638 gross tons [1][2]. As the largest ship in the MSC fleet, it spans 16 passenger decks and accommodates up to 6,774 guests across 2,626 cabins [1][2]. The vessel’s design is segmented into seven distinct districts, a structural choice intended to manage passenger flow and diversify the onboard atmosphere [1][2]. Among its most technically ambitious features is the Cliffhanger, the only over-water swing ride at sea, which suspends thrill-seekers 48.8 meters above the ocean [1][4]. Additionally, the ship boasts the “Jaw Drop,” a dry slide that descends 11 decks, measuring 109.7 meters in length [2].

Strategic Deployment in the Caribbean

MSC has strategically positioned this asset to capture the lucrative Caribbean market by homeporting the vessel in Miami [3][4]. The ship’s itinerary planning focuses on 7-night rotations covering both Eastern and Western Caribbean routes, with calls at high-demand ports such as Puerto Plata, San Juan, and Cozumel [4]. A key differentiator in its route network is the inclusion of the Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve in the Bahamas, a private island destination featured on multiple sailings, including those scheduled for January 3, March 14, and June 20, 2026 [5][6][7]. Operational efficiency and environmental compliance are also central to the ship’s profile, as it is powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), currently the cleanest fossil fuel available at scale for marine propulsion [1][7].

Sources

Cruise Industry MSC Cruises